12:31 AM 12/11/02
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Vandread: The Enemy Within
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Chapter Two: The Voice of Reason
*Because you and I are the same....*
"W-What are you talking about?! Who are you?!" Meia asked in confusion. Confused as
she was, she can't help but feel nervous at what she was informed. If what he says
is true, then what is Meia then? What is he for that matter? Too many questions
entered her mind and yet she remained calm. Nothing can be resolved by
panicking.
"I'm talking about you.... Your life... How you lived it.. How it was all a lie.. Just like mine." The voice said knowingly.
"You don't know anything about me!" Meia argued angrily.
*But I do....* The voice insisted sadly.
"Shut up!"
*You and I... we're the same...*
"Iie..."
*We're both... lonely..*
Meia gasped at the voice's words... How could this being tell what she feels? It didn't make any sense at all. As much as she wanted to deny what the voice had said, she couldn't bring herself to do so... He was right after all...
".... Who are you?" Meia finally asked, her voice calmer.
*You can call me... Zeo...* The voice answered hesitantly.
"Where did you come from? What are you?" Meia asked again.
*I have always been here... But the others... They can't see me... They can't hear me... Like you can... I don't know why... But its sad... I have always wanted someone to play with me...* Zeo told her, his voice filled with sadness. Meia couldn't help but sympathize with him but forced herself not to. In the back of her mind, the possibility that Zeo might be an enemy was making her doubt anything that Zeo was telling her.
"... Why me? How did you find me? Why are you bothering me?!" Meia finally exclaimed desperately.
*Because we're the same.... You and I... We have always been the same...* Zeo
answered thoughtfully.
Meia stayed silent for a while, comprehending Zeo's words. Part of her wanted to
label Zeo as a figment of her imagination, while the other part wanted to believe
him. And yet, some other part wanted her to doubt him. Meia sighed and got up on her
feet.
*Meia?* Zeo called out to her.
"I'm going out... I'll deal with you later..." The Dread Leader told him as she headed towards the door.
*Demo!*
"Later!" Meia hissed sharply which made Zeo shut up in an instant.
At that very moment, a small transport vessel docked into the pirate's lair. Several
of the Nirvana crew, lead by Paiway and Misty waited anxiously on the docking area
as the transport ship opened.
"OKAERINASAI!" The group of space pirated cheered in unison as their long-awaited friends finally stepped out of the transport ship. Dita, Hibiki, Bart, Duero, BC and Pyoro have arrived at last!
"Welcome back, you guys!" Misty cried happily as she launched herself to Hibiki and the others. "I missed you! We all did!" She exclaimed.
"PYORO-NI!!!!" Pyoro bellowed as he headed straight towards an irritated Ezra, who tried to shield her daughter away from the psychopathic robot. Karu, on the other hand, was very thrilled to see the hyperactive robot.
Magno stepped forward and smiled at the group. BC did so as well and nodded at their boss.
"Okashira.."
"It's good to have you back, BC... minna..." Magno greeted warmly.
BC smiled at the old woman and nodded again.
"It's good to be back."
"Yare yare... What have you guys been up to? You've been gone for almost six months!
How was Taraaku?" Gascogne asked as she slapped Hibiki on the shoulder
playfully.
"Tiring! We didn't get any rest at all! When we got back there, we got hauled off to a re-education project that will teach men and women to live together! It was a nightmare!" Hibiki groaned.
"Well, at least it paid off, eh Hibiki?" Gascogne winked at him and glanced at Dita, who in turn, blushed furiously.
"Stop embarassing me, baka!" Hibiki exclaimed irritatedly which made everyone laugh.
"By the way..." Hibiki suddenly hesitated as he scanned the room. He noticed that almost everyone was there, except for a certain blue haired dread leader.
"Where's Meia?" He suddenly asked. Misty and the others suddenly glanced at each other, searching for the dread leader.
"She said she was tired and went to her room to take a nap. But that was several hours ago. Maybe she's training?" Misty told them, but even she was doubting her own words.
"Don't mind Meia! She's a big girl! I'm sure she's just being herself and hanging out where she doesn't want to be seen!" Jura told them reassuringly.
"Well, I'm sure she'll join us for dinner at the main hall. Let's get going now!"
Magno told them as the group walked towards the main hall.
Earth...
It has been six months since the defeat of the Earthlings against the combined might of men and women. That failure was an utter humiliation in their part. Because of it, they wisely decided to temporarily keep a low profile while fixing the damages that were done during the war. At the same time, they were building new weaponries and rounding up new units to fight their enemies.
Now, after six months of waiting, they are again, ready to strike back.
"How is Pexis?" An old man with long silver-white hair and dressed in a black robe, asked the group of men who entered the hall. The group of men dressed in white labcoats dropped slowly on one knee and bowed their heads in greetings. When the old man acknowledged them with a slight nod, the group stood up and addressed the other men present in the hall.
"The Pexis is slowly recuperating from its injuries. It will be in perfect condition given a few more months of healing time." The middle-aged man with short dirty blonde hair explained. "Cornelius, see to it that the Pexis recover immediately. We cannot afford to lose it nor can we afford to lose to those pitiful worthless humans." The old man spat bitterly.
"Of course, Lord Thorak..." Cornelius replied silently. "There is one more thing I would wish to discuss with you, my lords..." Cornelius added hesitantly.
"What is it?" Kane, the other old man sitted beside Thorak asked.
"My team and I have recently unveiled some... manuscripts written several years ago..." Cornelius began, waiting for a reaction from the Earth Council. All he got was a raised eyebrow from Lord Narcissus and a serious expression from the other two.
"And why would this interest us?" Lord Narcissus asked in mild irritation.
"The manuscripts were writted about a hundred years ago. The time when Pexis was created and the time when...."
"We know what happened a hundred years ago, Cornelius... We were there.. We lived through it.... Do not lecture us about it." Kane snapped at the younger man.
"Forgive me, my lords, but please hear me for a moment. There was a record of a certain specimen whose powers were believed to surpass those of the pexis." Cornelius explained. This got the attention of the three council leaders, but not in the way Cornelius thought it would. The three exchanged knowing glances.
"If you meant about Specimen PX03, then we know about it." Thorak told them group of scientists before them.
"However, the specimen was stolen from us by the same people who we are harvesting right now." Narcissus continued.
"For all we know, the specimen is lost to us. It could not possibly survive without our technology. It was such a waste. Those years of research." Kane concluded bitterly.
"What are you actually trying to tell us, Cornelius? Why bring up a dead specimen from the past?" Kane asked curiously.
"That is what I have been trying to tell you, my lords. You see, we believe that the specimen has survived." Cornelius explained eagerly.
"It can't be. It can't possibly survive outside the Earth." Thorak uttered in disbelief.
"But it did.... I have read through the manuscripts that pexis cores can communicate with each other and has the ability to sense whenever another core is near. But in the case of the specimen it too, has a link with the pexis since both beings came from the same origin. However, when the specimen comes in contact with a pexis, a reaction occurs." Cornelius explained seriously.
"And why must we need to know this?" Narcussus asked arrogantly.
"Because, our pexis confronted the specimen.... six months ago."
As usual, dinner in the pirate's lair has always been eventful. But unlike others before, tonight was a celebration. The grand dinner was held in honor of old returning friends who left their side to help rebuild a dream - a dream of finally reuniting men and women. The path was long, but they were hoping that in the end, their dreams will be fulfilled.
Magno Vivan gazed at her crew, silently pleased with them. Of all her years of
living a pirate's life, the old woman has never been prouder of her team. Sure, not
all of them were as talented as her veteran team, but the young crew have something
that the veterans lack - strength, determination and the willingness to try out new
ideas. The crew of Nirvana have showed these traits the moment men entered their
lives. And contrary to the belief of others, these men and women successfully worked
together. Not just as partners or teammates, but as a family.
Magno's trail of thoughts were interrupted by a loud commotion across her table.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGHTER YOU CYBERNETIC OAF!" Rebekka exclaimed in a very annoyed tone as Pyoro snatched Karu from Ezra. The latter, knowing that Pyoro really missed her daughter, let the robot take the baby. Unfortunately, Rebekka, being the overprotective of the two, did not approve of letting a robot handle their precious child.
"PYORO IS PYORO-NI'S FATHER! I HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE HER!" Pyoro snapped back as he once again snatched Karu from Rebekka this time. Karu, thinking it was a game, started giggling noisily. Ezra just sighed in defeat. There was no use in getting in between her lover and the crazed robot. She saw Magno staring at them in amusement. She nodded at their leader and smiled warily.
"WHO THE HECK IS PYORO-NI? HER NAME IS KARU!" Rebekka retorted, snatching Karu from Pyoro again. The tug-of-war would have lasted for quite a long time had it not for Magno's intervention.
"You two are behaving like silly kids." The old woman stated as a matter-of-factly. The room burst into laughter which made the two stop their antics.
"But this being...!" Rebekka uttered, blushing furiously.
"Has done nothing but care for your child since the moment she was born,
Rebekka..." Gascogne said, smirking at the veteran leader.
"... Much to Ezra's dismay that is!" Gascogne added making the others laugh out
again.
"But still, Pyoro did save Karu-chan and Ezra-san back then..." Dita trailed off,
reminiscing the time Ezra was in labor. The memory made her grin a bit.
Rebekka sighed and slumped back to her seat but not before giving Karu back to
Pyoro. The latter on the other hand, took the child in his arms and flew happily
around the room. Ezra couldn't help but giggle at the sight of a defeated Rebekka
and playfully wrapped her arms around her.
"Now that everything is back in order, may I have everybody's attention?" Magno stated in a firm voice. The crew quickly stop what they were doing and waited for Magno to resume her speech.
"We've been slacking off for quite some time now eversince both Mejerru and Taraaku agreed to cooperate with one another. I think it is about time that we return to space and do what we do best." Magno stated. The crew cheered in delight, knowing that they will once again head on to a new adventure.
"And since we're all here... I..."
Magno was cut off when Misty burst into the main hall.
"Gomen... I can't find Meia-neesama anywhere!" The girl exclaimed worriedly. At that same time, a wide holographic screen turned on, revealing Meia aboard her dread.
"Okashira..." Meia called out silently.
"What's wrong, Meia?" Magno asked.
"Sumimasen, demo... I need to leave for a while..." Meia explained in her usual silent, passive tone.
"Is there something wrong?" Their leader asked again, her tone was passive as well.
"Iie... I just need.... some fresh air..." Meia's statement baffled several of Nirvana's crew as whispers and quiet conversations eminated from the main hall.
"Meia, we will be leaving Mejerru's system in three days time." BC interrupted, seeing that Magno has remained silent and just stared at the blue-haired Dread Leader.
Suddenly, Zeo interrupted her thoughts.
*It's not a good idea to leave them, you know...* The child told him as a
matter-of-factly.
*Shut up... I don't have time for this* Meia snapped back at him.
*Why are you leaving?* Zeo asked again.
*Can't you tell?* Meia replied sarcastically.
*No...*
*Because of you, damnit!* Meia gritted her teeth in annoyance.
*Please don't go... Its dangerous...* Zeo pleaded.
"Shut up!" Meia snapped angrily, unaware that she just said it out loud. It was too
late the moment she realized what she just said. BC and the others were giving her
puzzled and questioning looks.
"G-Gomen... I'll be back before that... I-Its good to have you all back again by
the way... Ja..." Meia said as she turned off her commlink and sped off towards
Mejerru.
The main hall remained silent for a long time, still staring at the blank commlink
screen where Meia was just was a while ago. Just then, Magno decided to break their
thoughts.
"Rebekka-san..." She called out. The two exhanged knowing glances as Rebekka stood up, kissed Ezra and Karu on the forehead and hurriedly left the main hall, but not before nodding at Gascogne, who knew something as well.
BC stared at the three and for the first time, felt that they were keeping something from her, from everybody.
"Is there something that we need to know?" BC asked Magno.
"Iie.. Everything's fine BC.. Now let's resume our meals shall we?" Magno replied casually as if nothing happened.
Hibiki and Dita exchanged glances. So did Duero and Bart.
"I wonder what's up with her..." Bart asked Duero curiously. The latter just shrugged his shoulders.
Moments later, Gascogne too, excused herself and went after Rebekka.
Back on Earth...
"Are you saying that the specimen has survived? How is that possible?" Kane asked Cornelius.
"I suspect that the specimen has evolved and adapted itself into its new environment the same way their pexis did." Cornelius started.
"But after carefully studying the results I have gathered six months ago... There is no doubt that our pexis came in contact with it. But the link was broken off before any of us could identify its identity or pinpoint its exact location." Cornelius explained.
"So the humans have our specimen.... Could it be that they were using it to defeat us back then? Is that how their machines surpassed ours?" Narcissus asked.
"Iie... I do not think the humans are even aware of the specimen's presence. Their advancement in technology was their pexis' doing. If they knew about the specimen, then no doubt... our own forces would have been eliminated years before..." Cornelius replied knowingly.
"So how do we retrieve what is rightfully ours?" Thorak asked seriously.
"It is quite simple actually.. We have the situation in our advantage, the fact that these humans are too ignorant to realize the power that is hiding within their grasps." Cornelius stated casually.
"Then, Cornelius Lanchester, we will entrust this operation to you. Do whatever
it takes to retrieve it... Do not fail us!"
"No way, Rebekka-san! You know how she is when she's angry!" Varoa's voice boomed in Rebekka's commlink.
"You're the only one in there right now that I can trust, Varoa..." Rebekka explained.
"Demo! This is Meia we're talking about! I can handle it if its just anybody else! You know how Meia is! She doesn't like being tailed! I don't want to get on her bad side!" Varoa exclaimed again.
"Just do as you're told, Varoa..." Rebekka stated, her serios and commanding. Varoa gulped audibly, finally realizing that Rebekka was also someone she should watch out for when angered.
"H-Hai!" With that Varoa turned off her link.
"That went well..." Gascogne suddenly said. Rebekka, knowing that Gascogne would follow her the minute she left the hall, did not flinch, already anticipating the worst. The two were in the bridge. The moment Magno exchanged glances with her and Gascogne, the two knew exactly what it meant - make sure Meia doesn't get into too much trouble.
"Can't really blame her though... The last time Meia went out, she took out half of Mejerru's streetgang population." Rebekka said, her back on Gascogne.
Gascogne chuckled as she remembered a distraught Varoa contacting them in her commlink. They could barely comprehend what the young pilot was saying as she explained to them frantically that Meia was kicking ass in a local bar. That was the first and last time they asked Varoa to follow Meia whenever the latter decided to take sime time off for herself. And eversince then, Varoa became terrified of following her again that Gascogne and Rebekka had to do it themselves. Fortunately, Meia grew tired of wandering. The last time she left on her own was three years ago. Now, Magno and the others couldn't help but worry what was wrong.
"Do you think something's up with her?" Rebekka asked worriedly. "Its not like her to leave without a more reasonable explanation than going out for a fresh air, Gascogne.."
"Who knows what's going on inside her mind? That girl has a lot of issues even before Magno took her in." Gascogne replied.
"Anyway, it's not as if she's let us down before. or now... Maybe she's just tired... Tired of all we're doing... After all, Meia was just a kid when we took her in. She barely had a choice. But still, she proved to be the best. What if she's getting sick of the life that we lead?" Rebekka asked worriedly.
"Then we have no other choice but to let her go... If that is really the case.." Magno suddenly interrupted the two.
"Okashira... Varoa's been informed and will keep an eye on her."
"Just make sure Varoa keeps her distance... I don't want Meia to get the wrong idea... I trust Meia... Whatever happens, we should respect her decisions."
"Demo..."
"Let's just wait and see..."
2:02 PM 12/22/02